Scan 46
Musical Courier 1891-12-16: Vol 23 Iss 617, 1891
56 lines. Read by computer on 19 September 2026. Printed page 733. See the scan on archive.org.
1Sharp's Invention.
2THIS is the age of self playing instruments and at present the manufacture of them is confined practically to Meriden. The Aeolian Organ Company manufactures nothing else, and self playing instruments have become an important part of the Wilcox & White Organ Company's business. McTammany and Gally, of Massachusetts, are the only other manufacturers of such instruments, and they in such a small way as to cause no conflict with the Meriden companies. The manufacture of pedal self playing organs was never engaged in extensively until the Mechanical Organuette Company, of New York, and the Automatic Paper Company, of Boston, consolidated with additional capital and is the Aeolian Organ and Music Company located in Meriden in the fine factory at the corner of Tremont and Cambridge streets. Previous to this the majority of self playing reed instruments were operated by a crank.
4The manufacture of self playing organs was first engaged in by the Wilcox & White Organ Company some three years ago. Other organ companies throughout the country, seeing the success made of the business by the Meriden concerns and the growing demand for automatic instruments, have had their most skilled mechanics at work trying to devise a pneumatic instrument that would not be an infringement on the patents at present protecting the manufacture of these instruments. This was no easy matter, and at this time the business remains where it was previous to these attempts. With the self playing organ a success, inventive genius turned its attention to perfecting a self playing piano, and the Aeolian Organ Company has an electric piano and the Wilcox & White Organ Company a pneumatic piano.
6The latest invention in self playing instruments is by Charles F. Sharps of 156 Britannia street, who for two years has labored to perfect the instrument which he has through his attorney, C. L. Burdett, of Hartford, applied for patents on. Mr. Sharps is from a family of inventors, his father being the late Christian Sharps, inventor and manufacturer of the Sharps rifle. The new invention is really a distinct, separate affair from the instrument, and in mechanical arrangement and operation is the ideal of simplicity and high grade mechanics. The arrangement of pneumatics is entirely different from anything previously devised.
8The particular point that recommends the invention to the musical world is the fact that it can be applied to any parlor organ or upright piano at moderate expense. The invention will operate either organ or piano automatically. The instrument upon which Mr. Sharps is exhibiting his invention has two and one-fifth set of reeds. Above the regular action the air grooves operating the pneumatics are located. On top of the board containing these is a row of small pneumatics corresponding in number to the keys of the instrument. Underneath this board are four rows of large pneumatics, one beneath the other. From an arm on each of these pneumatics hangs a wire attached to a lever operating on the coupler buttons on the pitmans, or wooden rods, connecting the keys of the instrument with the reed board valves. By means of these levers operated by pneumatics the operation of the valves becomes automatic, subject to the passage over the air board of perforated paper.
10A patent on the motor operating the music roll has also been applied for, it differing from other motors, inasmuch as it will run to the right to wind music and the left to rewind or vice versa. When the new instrument is in operation the keyboard becomes a thing of life, keys dropping with the exact rapidity required by the selection rendered.
12Mr. Sharps' invention has been viewed by three of the leading organ manufacturers of the country, who confessed to be astonished at the results. If the invention proves to be no infringement, and patents are granted, Mr. Sharps will either connect himself with one of the leading organ companies of the country, allowing them the exclusive right to use his invention, organize a stock company to manufacture self playing instruments, or allow organ and piano manufacturers to use the appliance in connection with their instruments on a royalty.—Meriden "Republic."
14Wehli and Bendel.
15IN an article contributed to the Boston "Times" by James M. Tracy we find the following story in reference to Wehli and Bendel and the Hallet & Davis Jubilee grand:
17At the banquet given the press at St. James Hotel, by George H. Davis,* for the purpose of having his Jubilee pianos tested, Franz Bendel and James M. Wehli were the pianists engaged. Bendel was extremely nervous before leaving his room and it required all the persuasive powers of Mrs. Bendel and myself to keep him from running mad! He did not fear the critics in the least, but having been told that Wehli was a most wonderful player, it worried him for fear Wehli might outshine and overpower him. As he never had heard of Wehli before coming here, he did not know or have any idea of what the man could do, and it made him so nervously anxious he was almost beside himself. Bendel played first, surprising everybody with his wonderful technical powers; after he had finished Wehli was ushered into the room, and going directly to the second piano commenced playing Thalberg's "La Favorita;" he played it wonderfully well.
19Bendel sat close beside Wehli while he played, watching him attentively to the end. Wehli to show what he could do, played his arrangement of "Home Sweet Home," for left hand alone, undoubtedly thinking he had entirely over-weighted Mr. Bendel. Both these artists seemed afraid of each other. Bendel was modestly dressed in black, without ornament or show. Wehli was gotten up in the extreme of style—low shoes, white stockings, with other things to match: he was, so to speak, perfectly immaculate. After Wehli had played his greatest drawing card Bendel became himself again, and, seating himself at the piano, played piece after piece of Liszt's most difficult compositions, with perfect ease and astonishing effects.
21Wehli soon became convinced of his littleness, retiring early, with the plea of being quite sick! To counteract the effect of Wehli's "Home, Sweet Home," Bendel played one of Liszt's "Paganini's Studies" for left hand alone, turning around and facing the audience during its performance. He was cheered and cheered, for no such playing had ever before been heard in Boston, and none better has been heard since. After each piece Bendel seated himself beside his wife, who would wipe the perspiration from his brow with her beautiful lace handkerchief, and whisper words of encouragement in the ears of the one she loved, adored and worshipped so much. He would then turn to me and ask what I thought of it, as he used to do at Weimar in times gone by. He did this so to be assured his wife had not been unduly prejudiced in his favor, wanting to know the exact truth.
23IN TOWN.
25THE following gentlemen of the music trade were in town and among our callers during the last week:
27Jasperson Smith………….{ Ludden & Bates S. M. H., Savannah, Ga.
28S. Nordheimer…………………Toronto, Canada.
29Henry J. Frees…………………Dallas, Tex.
30Messrs. Forster and Ruxton….Chickering & Sons, Boston.
31Mr. H. M. Cable………………..Chicago.
32Mr. Theodore Pfaflin…………….Chicago.
33C. B. Hawkins…………………Worcester, Mass.
34Mr. Leland………….S. R. Leland & Son., Worcester, Mass.
35H. W. Hall…………………….Burlington, Vt.
36L. M. Pierce…………………..Springfield, Mass.
37G. C. Aschbach………………..Allentown, Pa.
38Lawrence A. Subers…………….Camden, N. J.
40HONEST OPINIONS.
42I take great pleasure in giving expression to the admiration I feel for your Pianos. The exquisitely pure singing qualities of tone give me the keenest satisfaction in playing. The solidity of construction and perfect finish in every detail insure the greatest durability.
44Yours truly,
45R. L. LOUD.
47There are so many Pianos manufactured at the present day, but very few Pianos that deserve the name of musical instruments, and your Piano, I must say, stands in the front row of the few. I suppose that I have tuned as many Pianos of the different makes as any living man (in the last 37 years), but I never found any Piano so perfect in everything as the A. B. CHASE of Norwalk, Ohio.
49Yours sincerely,
50F. TEUPE.
52We desire to go on record as saying that in our judgment there isn't a better Piano made to-day than the A. B. CHASE. Tone, Workmanship, Material and Durability are the points upon which we make the above assertion.
54Yours truly,
55LANGE & MINTON.
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